Not having fixed policies at local level can be a good thing. Since when have the Tories and Labour ever been pragmatic?

For example, in my time as a Local Government officer:

- The Tories privatised services that were cost-effective. They wound up all the Metropolitan Authorities just to get rid of two of them ... the GLC and South Yorkshire.

- Labour refused to privatise, or even modify, services that were wholly inefficient. The unions carried more sway than the case for public benefit.

How can you elect a party that campaigns on a macro level but when they get elected they don't even have micro-level policies. Policies at least give you something to hold them accountable for, otherwise what's the point in political parties?

Arguing with the forum trolls is like playing chess with a pigeon. No matter how good you are, the bird will **** on the board and strut around like it won anyway

Local Government has a proud record of receiving sterling service from Independent councillors, with to party axe to grind. There's no reason why UKIP councillors couldn't provide the same pragmatic role.

Local Government has a proud record of receiving sterling service from Independent councillors, with to party axe to grind. There's no reason why UKIP councillors couldn't provide the same pragmatic role.

One Diane Abbott does not make up for the slavering hordes of Tory MPs on the right of the Tory party. It's almost like a filthy mirror image of 1983, instead of the Labour party MPs demanding a further shift to the left, we have the Tories. Unfortunately, there's no credible opposition to smash them into realising that they should abandon the frothy mouthed ones and concentrate on real policies.

Arguing with the forum trolls is like playing chess with a pigeon. No matter how good you are, the bird will **** on the board and strut around like it won anyway

The odd thing being that MEPs are (in general) worse with less control. Farage in particular milks the system something chronic and then goes to the golf club to brag about it.

I know I keep saying this - and Steve May says it better - but the real protest vote is simply not voting right now. Ukip's rating are increasing amongst the voters but the pool of voters is getting smaller. And it's not because people are apathetic but that they see the options and realise they literally have no choice.